
The c‐ring ion binding site of the ATP synthase from Bacillus pseudofirmus OF4 is adapted to alkaliphilic lifestyle
In the c‐ring rotor of ATP synthases ions are shuttled across the membrane during ATP synthesis by a unique rotary mechanism. We investigated characteristics of the c‐ring from the alkaliphile B
acillus pseudofirmus OF4 with respect to evolutionary
adaptations to operate with protons at high environmental pH. The X‐ray structures of the wild‐type c13 ring at pH 9.0 and a ‘neutralophile‐like’ mutant (P51A) at pH 4.4, at 2.4 and 2.8 Å resolution, respectively, reveal a dependency of the
conformation and protonation state of the proton‐binding glutamate (E54) on environmental hydrophobicity. Faster labelling kinetics with the inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) demonstrate a greater flexibility of E54 in the mutant due to reduced water occupancy
within the H+ binding site. A second ‘neutralophile‐like’ mutant (V21N) shows reduced growth at high pH, which is explained by restricted conformational freedom of the mutant's E54 carboxylate. The study directly connects subtle structural adaptations
of the c‐ring ion binding site to in vivo effects of alkaliphile cell physiology.
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Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: June 1, 2014